Common in rough grassland, waste ground and damp woodland edges throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight reasonably well-distributed, with a significant population in Botley Wood. Wingspan 14-17 mm. Very similar to
A. rubigana, but differing in the slightly smaller size and the comparatively narrow, less oblique and usually uninterrupted median fascia of the forewing [Bradley]. Larva feeds within seeds of various species of thistle, especially Spear Thistle and Marsh Thistle.